Where to find a part?
 

I have a Raleigh Professional from about 1975, and when I shipped it here, I detached the Campy derailleur so the bike could fit in the box. Well, apparently the bolt that connects the derailleur fell out of the box, or something, so I need a new one.

Does anyone have any idea where I could find such a bolt? The local bike shop didn't even recognize the thing... (took a matching one from another bike to show them)

I would certainly try here first: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/parts.html

then perhaps here: http://www.thethirdhand.com/index.cgi

and then there's always: http://www.campagnolo.com/home.php

And who knows, maybe even here: http://www.raleigh.co.uk/live/main/index.html

Good luck!

Cheers...Gary

The want ads in www.campyonly.com sometimes will have the bolt you need. www.twowheeltransit.com may have one or could order one for you.

Ride bolted
Pat

Man, that is the problem with old bikes - especially good ones. They don't have much re-sale value, but try to find a part for one! It will cost you a fortune IF you can find the part.

How about contacting the shop where you bought your bike. Any chance they are still around? I found that many of the bike shop owners of the '70's are now retiring, but they still have stuff in their basement, garage, or otherwise warehoused from their old bike shop. If you know the old owners, try contacting them.

Being that it is a Raleigh of mid '70's vintage, the bolt was likely whitworth threaded, and therefore, will be nearly impossible to find a replacement for. You could check a classic bike forum, especially one for old Raleighs (they were the only manufacturer using whitworth standard threading since the early 50's), or you could have a machinist make you one. An engine lathe could be used to make one fairly quickly, but expect to have to pay dearly for it.
Another alternative would be to drill out the threads, cut new threads with a die, and use a larger, common bolt.

If I remember correctly, it's not that simple. I THINK the piece which Eckroth needs is a special bolt with a rectangular head - not a standard bolt. Hopefully I am wrong and he can drill out the hole and rethread as D*Alex suggests.

Hmm, rectangular head... I looked at it and it's a hexagon, if that's what you're talking about. Also, I noticed it's a Nuovo Record derailleur.

Gary, Pat: thanks a lot for the websites.. no luck yet, but I'll re-search with this new knowledge of "Nuovo Record".

Mike: I will call, and luckily I'll be returning for Christmas to Bakersfield (where I bought the bike) so I may be blessed and buy it without shipping.

D*Alex: how do I know if it's a whitworth thread?

Try over at Bicycle Classics. They are at www.bicycleclassics.com This shop has a lot of Campy small parts.

Things are starting to make sense - especially the fact that the derailure is a Nuovo Record.

The bolt is just a standard hex head? That may be, but maybe the nut is a rectangle.

It seems I remember that either the nut or the bolt was a goofy shape that you couldn't substitute.

Let me check my stable. I have a couple (actually, about four) of 1970's Raleigh 10-speeds. I should be able to pluck a reference for you.

If, however, you could get by with a standard fastener, then drill and tap a new hole as D*Alex wisely suggests. It is not difficult to do. In fact, any high school shop class should be able to do it for you.

Here ya go. Is this what you are looking for?

This nut and special bolt is on several of my 1970's Raleigh ten-speeds. This came from a Raleigh Gran Prix with a Simplex derailure. The other Raleighs all have different derailures, but this nut/bolt seems common to some of them.

Note that the nut has a raised groove that fits into the slot in the dropout. It holds the derailure in place.

Oh, it's a dropout mount for a Campagnolo horizontal dropout! Yeah, those things were as common as dirt once, and probably any decent bike shop (not bike boutique!) will have them.

Oscar, that looks very promising. I'll call today (Tues).

Mike, D*Alex: Unfortunately, what you showed is entirely not what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about has no nut; it's a bolt with variating diameter and it slides into the top hole of the derailleur and screws (not easily) into the hole in the frame; it is the only place where the derailleur is attached to the frame. Also, the threads are at the end of the bolt, and it is smooth (with variating diameter) in the middle (the part that sits in the derailleur hole).

FYI - that form is often referred to as a carriage bolt, though most of the ones used in woodworking have smooth, round heads. The unthreaded part acts as a bearing surface for what is being held, and the threads secure it to the mounting plate.

Cheers...Gary